The parents of an 11-year-old girl who fell to her death from a Ferris wheel earlier this month are hoping the tragedy will lead to an increase in amusement park safety regulations.

Abiah Jones was on a school trip to reward students making the honor roll at Morey's Piers Amusement park in Wildwood, N.J., when she died after falling from a Ferris wheel that stands 156-feet tall, "Today" reports.

According to the news show, no one knows why Abiah, who was on the ride alone, fell -- an investigation is ongoing -- but her parents say the Ferris wheel did not have a cage, seat belts or restraints.

"It's the law," her father, Byron Jones Jr., tells "Today." "You must put your seat belt on while operating a motor vehicle, so why shouldn't a Ferris wheel have a restraint?"

In New Jersey, as in most of the country, restraints are not required on Ferris wheels, "Today" reports. The Morey's Piers ride had recently passed an inspection and this was the first fatality ever at the park.

The news show says in the wake of Abiah's death, state inspectors are now telling amusement park managers to require that at least two people ride in a Ferris wheel gondola and are enacting a 54-inch height requirement, one that Abiah would have met.

"Safety is the key," Jones tells "Today." "And we just need to pay more attention to our child. Just be mindful that things can happen."

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I feel very sorry for the parents and family of this young girl but making more safety requirements is not the answer. Yes it's the law to wear seat belts in a car but many children die in car accidents because they weren't wearing one. Ferris wheels have been around forever and the ratio of people dying falling from them is very low. The only thing I can think that will help make it safer is requiring at least two in the seat as one person makes it tip to the side. I was just on a ferris wheel a week ago with my children and I can see where that would cause concern. You can't save people from themselves.

It is very sad. They think she stood up to look down and fainted. But I feel like if she fainted she would have fell either backward into the "basket" or her knees would give out and she fall right to the floor of the basket. The metal bars just seemed too high for her to faint and topple over~ unless she was standing on the seat......

Of course stricker laws need to be set. How you can say it wont help is beyond me. If this little girl was in a seatbelt or any type of restraint it would not matter if one or two people go on the ride. Please think about it.They can strap her in the middle of the seat so she wont slide around You say their are few accidents and I think that was great assumption on your part. I wonder how many accidents and deaths have resulted from an amussement Park Ride? I think I will check on those stats My thoughts and prayers are with her family

JUST BECAUSE 1 IGNORANT COLORED GIRL ON DRUGS BREAKS FREE OF FERRIS WHEEL SEAT BAR AND JUMPS TO HER DEATH, ALL OTHERS SHOULDS NOT SUFFER WITH IDIOT PROOF RESTRAINTS BECAUSE OF HER STUPIDITY. WHAT NEXT BAN ALL RIDES FOREVER ??? GEEEZE

Mike/Duncan (I'm assuming you are one in the same). You are a very sick individual. Even if the girl stood on the seat and was dancing around and lost her balance, it's a grave loss for this family. An 11 year old on drugs? YOU are the one on drugs, only someone's fried mind could think like you do.

The ride is very slow, and you know she had to be showing off, or acting like an idiot. Where were the chapperones? Who is to say, if she wanted to do whatever she did that she wouldn't unbuckle a seat belt. Don't ruin Wildwood for the rest of us. Get a grip.

There is no need for more safety regulations. This incident was nothing more than nature at work. Natural selection is what happened here. Honor student or not this child had something missing and…… you get………… a non continuation of stupidity. That’s how nature work’s so well………….

REPORT EMPLOYERS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS TO YOUR GOVERNOR, INS, BORDER PATROL ETC., SO THEY CAN PULL THE BUSINESSES LICENSE, IMPRISON UPPER MANAGEMENT AND SENT THE ILLEGAL INVADERS BACK TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY WHERE THEY BELONG.GOD BLESS AMERICA

ok i just wanna say to ALL OF THE IGNORANT jack rabbits on here who are posting mean comments, if you don't have anything good or comforting to say then sit down, shut up and grow up. what you should do is a take a step back and think about what if this was your OWN child or someone you love! you are very heartless and mean. the tables can turn on you then what will you say! if you have a brain take it off pause and let it play! thnk before you speak

I am so sorry for your loss and hope the laws are more strictly enforced regarding safety at all amusement parks around the country. It is horrible that someone must lose their life in order to get things done properly. My heart is breaking for you.

In most states we can be ticketed for driving even a short distance without buckling our car seat belts yet there's no safety requirements for amusement park rides that our children ride? Money can't replace this child but if the parents sue for a 7 figure amount I say they SHOULD get it!

I have been riding the ferris wheel in question since I was a child. I am now in my 70's. My heart goes out to the family of the child that lost her life, but the only way you could fall out ot this particular ferris wheel is if you were doing something totally contrary to the rules and regulations that are posted.

What would possess you to say such an ignorant thing? The article states that the ride had just passed inspection...it is obviously not the rides fault. If everyone else on this site can read in to knowing the child was not paying attention to the rules...why must you go right to the lawsuit as the answer? Can the amusement park sue the school or the parents for their child not acting safely on their ride...and therefore causing a financial hardship for them because you know they had to close and it surely scared paying customers away. Think before you write next time!

Based on what? The ride was not defective, it had just had and passed inspection. The girl met both the age and height requirements While I truly feel sorry for this family, not every accident deserves compensation. Especially since the girl's own actions may be the reason she fell.